Use of amides of polymerized fatty acids as thickeners

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of amides of polymerized fatty acids as thickeners. Moreover, the invention relates to aqueous compositions comprising these amides as thickeners.

We claim: 
     
       1. An aqueous composition comprising at least one surfactant, and at least one amide of a polymerized fatty acid of the formula I, ##STR4## where the variables independently of one another have the following meanings: A residue of a dimerized fatty acid having from 12 to 110 carbon atoms;   R 1  C 1  -C 12  -alkyl or C 3  -C 8  -cycloalkyl, which may optionally have from 1 to 6 substituents which are chosen independently of one another from hydroxyl, C 1  -C 4  -alkoxy, which may optionally be substituted by 1 or 2 hydroxyl or C 1  -C 4  -alkoxy groups;   R 2  H or C 1  -C 4  -alkyl, which may be substituted by 1 or 2 hydroxyl groups; R 3  C 2  -C 12  -alkylene which may have from 1 to 6 substituents which are chosen independently from one another from hydroxyl, C 1  -C 4  -alkoxy, which may be substituted by 1 or 2 hydroxyl groups; amino, C 1  -C 4  -monoalkylamino and di-C 1  -C 4  -alkylamino, it being possible for the alkyl groups of the amino groups to be substituted by 1 or 2 hydroxyl groups;   u from 0 to 20.   
     
     
       2. A composition as claimed in claim 1, where A is the residue of a dimerized fatty acid having from 22 to 42 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       3. A composition as claimed in claim 1, where R 1  is a C 1  -C 6  -alkyl radical substituted by from 1 to 6 hydroxyl groups. 
     
     
       4. A composition as claimed in claim 1 in the form of a cosmetic composition. 
     
     
       5. A composition as claimed in claim 1 comprising from 0.5 to 20% by weight of the amide of the formula I. 
     
     
       6. A composition as claimed in claim 1, where A is the residue of a dimerized fatty acid having from 30 to 38 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       7. An aqueous composition comprising: a) at least one alkyl or alkenyl polyglycoside,   b) at least one amide of a polymerized fatty acid of the formula I ##STR5## where the variables independently of one another have the following meanings:   A residue of a dimerized fatty acid having from 12 to 110 carbon atoms;   R 1  C 1  -C 12  -alkyl or C 3  -C 8  -cycloalkyl, which may optionally have from 1 to 6 substituents which are chosen independently of one another from hydroxyl, C 1  -C 4  -alkoxy, which may optionally be substituted by 1 or 2 hydroxyl or C 1  -C 4  -alkoxy groups;   R 2  H or C 1  -C 4  -alkyl, which may be substituted by 1 or 2 hydroxyl groups;   R 3  C 2  -C 12  -alkylene which may have from 1 to 6 substituents which are chosen independently from one another from hydroxyl, C 1  -C 4  -alkoxy, which may be substituted by 1 or 2 hydroxyl groups; amino, C 1  -C 4  -monoalkylamino and di-C 1  -C 4  -alkylamino, it being possible for the alkyl groups of the amino groups to be substituted by 1 or 2 hydroxyl groups;   u from 0 to 20.   
     
     
       8. A composition as claimed in claim 7, where A is the residue of a dimerized fatty acid having from 22 to 42 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       9. A composition as claimed in claim 7, wherein R 1  is a C 1  -C 6  -alkyl radical substituted by from 1 to 6 hydroxyl groups. 
     
     
       10. A composition as claimed in claim 7 comprising from 0.5 to 20% by weight of the amide of the formula I. 
     
     
       11. A composition as claimed in claim 7, comprising: a) from 10 to 90% by weight of an alkyl or alkenyl polyglycoside,   b) from 0.5 to 50% by weight of an amide of the formula I,   c) from 10 to 90% by weight of an anionic surfactant, and   d) from 0 to 50% by weight of a neutral salt, based on the total weight of the components.   
     
     
       12. A composition as claimed in claim 7 in the form of a cosmetic composition. 
     
     
       13. A composition as claimed in claim 7, comprising a) from 10 to 95% by weight of an amide of the formula I and   b) from 5 to 90% by weight of an alkyl or alkenyl polyglycoside, based on the total weight of the two components.   
     
     
       14. A composition as claimed in claim 7, where A is the residue of a dimerized fatty acid having from 30 to 38 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       15. A method of increasing the viscosity of surfactant-containing compositions which comprises adding to the composition a thickening amount of at least one amide of polymerized fatty acids of the formula I ##STR6## where the variables independently of one another have the following meanings: A residue of a dimerized fatty acid having from 12 to 110 carbon atoms;   R 1  C 1  -C 12  -alkyl or C 3  -C 8  -cycloalkyl, which may optionally have from 1 to 6 substituents which are chosen independently of one another from hydroxyl, C 1  -C 4  -alkoxy, which may optionally be substituted by 1 or 2 hydroxyl or C 1  -C 4  -alkoxy groups;   R 2  H or C 1  -C 4  -alkyl, which may be substituted by 1 or 2 hydroxyl groups;   R 3  C 2  -C 12  -alkylene which may have from 1 to 6 substituents which are chosen independently from one another from hydroxyl, C 1  -C 4  -alkoxy, which may be substituted by 1 or 2 hydroxyl groups; amino, C 1  -C 4  -monoalkylamino and di-C 1  -C 4  -alkylamino, it being possible for the alkyl groups of the amino groups to be substituted by 1 or 2 hydroxyl groups;   u from 0 to 20.